As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken, making your eyelids droop down. Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can reduce your side vision (peripheral vision), especially the upper and outer parts of your field of vision. Blepharoplasty can reduce or eliminate these vision problems and make your eyes appear younger and more alert.

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is done on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthesia. An incision is made that traces the natural fold of the upper lid and extends a little beyond the outside corner. The sagging skin is separated from the fatty tissue and muscle underneath and removed. A small amount of fat pads are also removed for those with puffy upper eyelids. Excess fat from the lower eyelid can be removed through an incision made inside the lower lid. For those with excess skin in the lower eyelid, the incision is made along the natural crease of the skin right below the eye. Following surgery you may experience mild discomfort, bruising and swelling.

Dr. Durgin will give you oral medication to ease the discomfort and cold compress to control the bruise and swelling. Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous activities for 4-6 weeks. Your sutures are usually removed within 3-10 days. Once sutures are removed and the swelling and bruise goes down, you will begin to see the result.